Death and New Life

While she wept, she could hear Oak Leaf talking to the chief about having her hand in marriage. When she heard the chief give approval, Orchid threw herself over Nicolas and Katie, her whole body shaking with sobs. The men let her weep a little longer, before they feigned kindness in holding a burial ceremony for him. The hole was dug deeply and Nicolas' body lain beside it.

"To the spirits of the earth," a new Elder spoke, "please accept this body and may his spirit rest peacefully."

Orchid knelt next to Nicolas, Katie in her arms, and Oak Leaf's hand on her shoulder—like a husband would as his wife grieved over her lost son. Several others stood around to drop the body into the ground below. The Elder's words continued.

"May not evil come upon us for showing kindness to these strangers and may the everlasting knowledge remain with us. Continue to guide this people."

Orchid lie across Nicolas' chest as the last words were spoken. They would not bury him. She would not allow it.

Oak Leaf touched her back with his hand. "Lockhartia, it's time to let him go. Let him rest."

"Ille contra mei mos maiorum!" she cried. (That goes against my tradition)

"What is your tradition?"

"Deflere mortui olim et unus noctis sola." (To mourn the dead for a day and one night)

"Then I shall return for you with the sun's rising." Oak Leaf left.

Orchid hoped it would be enough time for Nicolas to wake and save her from having to be reborn in the traditions of the Mountain Forest Tribe. She was glad Nicolas had suggested putting pockets on the inside of their clothes to carry supplies in. That way she could still care for Katie. She stayed the rest of the night next to his side. She was up before the sun rose again and let Katie listen to the soft, but steady beating of his heart. Had Katie not stopped crying the day before she would not have known the trees' words to be true. Nicolas was still alive. Orchid lie across Nicolas, half covering Katie as well. Then, just as he said, Oak Leaf returned at sunrise.

"The time has come, Lockhatria. Let us be going."

The trees had been silent and she had received no more instructions. Slowly, she sat up and moved the fabric from Nicolas' face so she could kiss him. Orchid kissed his forehead, his chin, each cheek, and then his lips before giving him one final hug.

"Te amo, Nicolas."

She slowly wrapped the fabric back into place. Finally, she sat up and reached for Katie, who had fallen asleep. Just as she rested the sleeping baby against her chest, Oak Leaf was next to her side, ready and anxious to lead her to the chief for marriage. Orchid reached once more to Nicolas' face before running her hand down his chest to his heart, where his hands rested.

"Come, Lockhartia. You've delayed long enough."

"Remanebo," she said, as Nicolas locked her fingers in his own. (I will remain)

"No. You will not!" He took a step closer as Nicolas' other arm pulled her down for a hug.

"What?" Oak Leaf said. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Salvesne, Lockhartia?" (Are you well, Orchid?)

"Salveo, mi amor. Salvesne?" (I am well, my love. Are you well?)

"Salveo. Te amo." (I am well. I love you)

"Te amo, enim." (I love you too)

"Katie?"

"Dormiens." (Sleeping)

"This can't be!" Oak Leaf cried. "I was sure..."

Nicolas' arms tightened around Orchid and his face turned towards Oak Leaf. "Spiritu compensent te ut tamen poenas dat." (May the spirits reward you so that you pay the penalty)

Oak Leaf backed up a few steps then ran when Nicolas sat up. But he didn't get far before he fell dead. The Spirits took his life, finally appeased.

"Discamus, Lockhartia." (Let us leave)

"Discamus," she repeated in agreement. (Let us leave)

Then, with her help, Nicolas stood and they disappeared into the trees. They didn't have to walk far before they had something to eat and drink before continuing on their way back to the valley. Nicolas carried Katie in one arm and held Orchid's hand with his free hand. They returned to the valley, gathered food supplies and filled the water bladders. In order to prevent another attempt on their lives, Orchid and Nicolas felt it best to keep moving. Neither of them knew where they would go, but they needed to get a lot further from the Mountain Forest Tribe.

They traveled for a week before they were forced to stop because Orchid and Katie both became ill. Nicolas tried to get Orchid well and hoped that Katie would get well as she continued to nurse. Both of them were sick for several weeks. Orchid started to improve, but Katie wasn't getting any better. At the end of four weeks, Nicolas woke to find that Katie had died during the night. His touch and gentle lifting of Katie from Orchid's chest woke her up.

"Nicolas?" she asked, still very tired.

"Dormi, Lockhartia," he replied, kissing her lightly. (Sleep)

"Quid falsus?" (What's wrong?)

"Nihil. Dormi." (Nothing. Sleep)

"Nicolas," Orchid said, touching his face. "Dic me." (Tell me)

Tears burned his eyes. "Katie mortuus... est," he wept. (Katie is dead)

"Quid?" Orchid sat up and saw the cold body of Katie in his arms. Eyes closed forever in eternal sleep. She started to cry. "Katie?" (What?)

Nicolas pulled her close until she shifted to hold their daughter. He let Orchid take Katie before wrapping both arms around her, holding her tightly.

"Sum tam paenitens," she whispered. (I am so sorry)

"Non culpam tui," Nicolas said, weeping with her. (I do not blame you)

They both wept until Nicolas could bring himself to take Katie from Orchid for burial. Orchid cried harder as he walked away. He found a soft patch of soil and used his hands to dig a deep enough hole to bury Katie in. Tears slid down his face and landed on Katie's cheeks before he lay her gently in the hole. Everything blurred as he started to push the soil back into the hole. Once or twice he felt Orchid's hands brush his as the last of the soil was packed into place. Her arms wrapped around him and they both wept by her grave.

"Arbora habeant Katie perpetua," Orchid said. (May the trees hold Katie eternally)

"Cur?" Nicolas asked. "Cur tenuit perire?" (Why? Why did she have to die?)

"Nescio, Nicolas. ...Nescio." (I don't know. I don't know)

Nicolas struggled after that. Each morning was filled with emptiness as he was unable to hold his sleeping daughter in his arms anymore. Orchid too was depressed, but all that kept them going was the thought, 'We need to be further from the Mountain Forest Tribe.'

Often, Nicolas would spend the afternoon fuming. Angry at the trees and angry at himself for not being able to do more. Orchid was often found staring away with her hands lightly moving through Lilly's thick fur. Orchid and Nicolas talked little, but held each other close as night fell. Slowly the emptiness and the anger turned to apathy. The only thing they found that helped them stay where they needed to be to help each other, was their intimacy.

During the nights, they actually tried to speak to each other to discover those things that they could so to support and aid the other. The conversations were fragmented and broken, like their still wounded hearts, still it gave them the opportunity to strengthen their bond of love and become more unified. They continued to travel for several months and were soon on the outskirts of another group of city people. About this same time, Orchid found herself pregnant again.

The news brightened the day for the both of them, though a few tears still fell on Katie's behalf. Nine months passed quickly and Orchid gave birth to a healthy baby boy. They named him Shalim. Joy began each morning when Nicolas woke to his cry to be fed or changed. Again, he was able to have time with just him and the child while Orchid rested. They still traveled, heading South then East. After a few months, they stopped in another plentiful valley and Nicolas built a home there. Shalim was growing bigger everyday and occupied much of Orchid's time. Still, this was the adventure Nicolas had been seeking.